Before you form a corporation, you’ll need to complete a business name search with the Georgia Business Search tool to check if your corporation name is available.
We'll show you how to check corporation name availability in Georgia in this guide.
Recommended: You’ll want to secure your website domain name as soon as possible. Check GoDaddy to make sure it’s available.
Georgia Corporation Name Search
The Georgia Secretary of State requires all business names to be distinguishable from other business entities in the state. So, you’ll want to search and make sure no other businesses in the state are already using your name.
It is also useful to see if your corporation name is available as a web domain (URL).
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How to Search Available Georgia Corporation Names
Once you know your corporation name meets Georgia business name guidelines, make sure it’s available by using the Georgia Business Search tool.
Want to learn more about corporations? Check out our What Is a Corporation guide to get started.
How to Check Available Domain Names
When deciding on a name for your corporation, you should make sure that a similar or exact domain name is available. A matching URL will help potential customers find your corporation faster.
How to Register a Corporation Name in Georgia
Register Your Name
A corporation name is officially registered when you file your Georgia Articles of Incorporation. You can hire a professional service to form a corporation for you or start a corporation yourself.
Ready to register your corporation name? Use our Form a Corporation guide to get started.
If you want to register a DBA in Georgia, known as a trade name, that’s a separate process that requires filing a separate form with the county where your business is located.
Reserve Your Name
While not required, you have the option to reserve your corporation name in Georgia for up to 30 days before you register it. This prevents other businesses from registering your name until you are ready to register it yourself.
Name reservations can be filed online or by mail with the Georgia Secretary of State. The filing fee is $25 online or $35 by mail.
Need Help Forming Your Corporation? ZenBusiness will get you started.
Georgia Corporation Name Requirements
Key Guidelines
Georgia has official requirements for its corporation names.
A name must contain one of the following words or abbreviations: corporation, incorporated, company, limited, corp., inc., co., ltd., or words or abbreviations of like meaning in another language.
There are also restricted words, such as “FBI” or “Treasury,” that you cannot use in order to keep your LLC from sounding like an official institution.
Georgia also has the following restrictions for corporation names:
- The name cannot contain language implying that the corporation is organized for an unlawful purpose or one not stated in its articles of incorporation; it also cannot include anything the Secretary of State determines is obscene.
- The name cannot exceed 80 characters.
- You need approval from the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner to use the following words: insurance, assurance, surety, fidelity, reinsurance, reassurance, or indemnity.
- You need approval from the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance to use the following words: bank, banc, banque, banker, banking company, banking house, bancorp, bankruptcy, credit union, savings & loan, trust, or trust company.
- You need approval from the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission to use the words “college” or “university.”
For more information, check out the Name Availability Standards page on the Georgia Secretary of State website.
Distinguishability
Your name must be distinguishable from all other Georgia business names. In Georgia, a distinguishable name is one that is substantively different from all other existing or reserved business names in the state.
The following differences do NOT make a name distinguishable in Georgia:
- Articles at the beginning of the name (e.g., the, a, an, etc.)
- Business type suffixes (e.g., LLC, Inc., etc.)
- The word “and” and ampersands (&)
- Punctuation
- Plural forms of words
- Abbreviations
- Phonetic differences in spelling
If your corporation name isn’t distinguishable, your Articles of Incorporation filing will likely be rejected.
What if my corporation name is already taken? Our AI-powered corporation name generator will give you thousands of new ideas.
For a list of brainstorming tips, check out our guide to naming your business.
Georgia Corporation Name Search FAQ
How do I check if a corporation name is taken in Georgia?
You can use the Georgia Business Search tool to see if your business name is available.
Learn more about business entity name availability in the Georgia Corporation Name Search section.
Should I name my corporation after myself?
While there’s no rule against naming a corporation after yourself, most experts advise against doing this.
One of the benefits of starting a corporation is the ability to choose a different name for your business, which can make it sound more professional.
To explore other naming options, use our free AI-powered business name generator.
What words can’t be used in a Georgia corporation name?
Business names generally can’t include words that imply the company is a banking or financial institution or that it’s affiliated with a local, state, or federal government agency.
Additionally, Georgia corporation names cannot contain language implying that the corporation is organized for an unlawful purpose or one not stated in its Articles of Incorporation; it also cannot include anything the Secretary of State determines is obscene.
You also need state approval to include any of the following words: insurance, assurance, surety, fidelity, reinsurance, reassurance, indemnity, bank, banc, banque, banker, banking company, banking house, bancorp, bankruptcy, credit union, savings & loan, trust, trust company, college, or university.
Learn more about corporation naming requirements in the Georgia Corporation Name Requirements section.
Should I use a business name generator?
If you’re having trouble choosing a name for your corporation, a corporation name generator can help you come up with some ideas.
Do I have to include ‘corporation’ in my name?
Georgia corporation names must contain one of the following words or abbreviations: corporation, incorporated, company, limited, corp., inc., co., ltd., or words or abbreviations of like meaning in another language.
Learn more about corporation naming requirements in the Georgia Corporation Name Requirements section.
Do I need to renew my business name in Georgia?
Georgia doesn't require corporations to renew their name.
Can my business name be different from my corporation name in Georgia?
Some companies choose to operate under a name that’s different from their legal name. This can either be called a “doing business as” (DBA) name or trade name in Georgia.
In Georgia, trade names for corporations are filed with the county where the corporation is located.
Learn more about trade names with our Georgia DBA guide.
Does my corporation need a DBA name?
Your corporation doesn’t need a DBA name unless it plans to do business under a name other than its legal name. Learn more with our Georgia DBA guide.